TRI disagrees with hurricane findings | Letters
In the article "The hurricanes of 2004," September issue, page 22,
Thomas L. Smith, president of TLSmith Consulting Inc., Rockton,
Ill., provides some good insight into the performance of roofing
materials during the 2004 hurricane season. However, the Tile
Roofing Institute (TRI) must take exception to some of the comments
in the article.
Based on viewing only a few tile roofs, Smith says tiles did not
"perform as predicted" and the industry's installation manual
predicted performance that was not achieved. These statements infer
uplift values used by the industry are invalid. In fact, the
fastening tables included in the third edition of the Concrete
and Clay Roof Tile Installation Manual, published by the
Florida Roofing, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors
Association (FRSA) Inc. and TRI, are based on extensive testing,
including full-scale wind tunnel testing in winds exceeding 125 mph
(56 m/sec) and static uplift testing in winds more than 150 mph (67
m/sec). The tables provide tested resistance values for mechanical
and adhesive-set systems.
TRI sent teams in 2004 to evaluate the performance of tile roof
installations in Florida and found roofs that were properly
installed according to the manual did perform well. We agree there
was improper workmanship in many of the failed roofs installed
after the 1997 code changes.
Furthermore, the article does not provide enough details to
support its conclusions about performance. There are many aspects
to consider when properly evaluating a roof assembly for wind
damage, including wind speed, gust speed, wind direction, exposure,
roof height, roof slope, proximity to surrounding buildings,
down...
To read the article in its entirety, please log in or register (registration is free).
Log in or register for FREE access to this article and other Professional Roofing online content.